The 2008 US presidential election saw Barack Obama become the first African American president. He won the Democratic nomination over Hillary Clinton after a long primary process involving primaries and caucuses in each state. John McCain won the Republican nomination, selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate. In the general election, Obama won with 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173, taking 53% of the popular vote to 46%. His victory was a historic first and made the 2008 election one that would be remembered forever in history books.